Live Octopus Being Served at NYC Restaurants?

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has said a restaurant or two in New York City is serving a dish called san-nakji (live octopus). The story was first reported by the New York Daily according to UPI.

PETA has been picketing the restaurants and issued letters to legal authorities about the alleged practice. Some say that the tentacles move from nerve activity, not necessarily because it is alive when the parts are served to customers. Other sources indicate the octopus is eaten alive, immediately after being cut up. It is also recommended that people be careful when consuming san-nakji because of active suction cups which can stick to the throat and cause choking. The dish is part of Korean cuisine. If you are squeamish about seeing moving tentacles on a plate, don’t watch this video. It is kind of disturbing.

Octopuses are considered by some to be the most intelligent invertebrates. So treating them in this manner is questionable.

Image Credit: LWY

Read more: Food, Pets, animal cruelty, octopus, peta

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Jane B.

8:26AM PST on Feb 27, 2012

This is too sickening for words.

send a green star

patricia m l.

8:21AM PST on Feb 27, 2012

YUCK!

Marie Eve L.

8:20AM PST on Feb 27, 2012

Disgusting! Korean custom or not, those people are disgusting.... Wake up you dumb people.

Tim C.

12:34PM PDT on Nov 4, 2011

thanks

Jackie D.

6:56PM PDT on Jul 11, 2011

"Octopuses are considered by some to be the most intelligent invertebrates. So treating them in this manner is questionable.
"

Intelligence is not a criteria for treating others, no matter which species, with compassion and kindness.

Elizabeth T.

1:56PM PDT on Jul 11, 2011

I've seen some people saying that this is a custom of Korea and therefore we shouldn't judge.
When do we stop hiding cruelty behind the lame facade of "culture" and take responsibility for our actions as adults?

Mary Beth M.

1:19PM PDT on May 14, 2011

Disgusting. We are the first to condemn and criticize other more 'primitive' cultures for animal rights abuses and cruelty and yet here in NY! We don't have enough food to eat without resorting to eating live creatures? Sickening! Just who orders this?